We had been hearing about the giant sequoias for years, so this was one of our first stops when we started exploring California’s National Parks. We had never heard of Kings Canyon, and were extra excited to learn that we could explore both of these gorgeous areas in one trip. Here is our guide for a weekend camping trip to enjoy both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks!
We visited these parks in July 2020, so the campgrounds in the park were closed. Luckily, there is a ton of surrounding national forest land where visitors can camp for free! Remember that these are not campgrounds, so you will need to bring all food/water and be ready to go outside when nature calls! Always check conditions before building a campfire and leave no trace when you leave! Also note that there are limit lengths for RVs and trailers, so check the Sequoia NP website for more information.
We started our trip with Sequoia National Park since we were driving up from the LA area. We took Highway 198 which enters the park at the town of Three Rivers. Foothills Visitor Center is close to this entrance if you are looking for additional information! We followed the Generals Highway, driving through Tunnel Rock until we got to the Marble Falls Trailhead. There is a pull off on the right side of the road where visitors can follow a small, steep trail down to splash around in some water, and there were very few people there when we stopped! We continued following this highway, stopping at the Giant Forest and the Big Trees Trail, which includes a 0.7 mile loop around a meadow surrounded by giant sequoias. Continuing on this road, we saw the legendary General Sherman tree, and then followed the road out of Sequoia NP to the surrounding Sequoia National Forest land to set up camp for the night. *Check out our Yosemite National Park guide for our car camping must-haves list!*
The next morning we took Highway 180 to the Big Stump entrance to Kings Canyon National Park from the West. We took our time exploring the General Grant Grove and General Grant Tree. Continue following this road North for a picturesque drive across the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, which exits the park and re-enters near the Cedar Grove Village. We were blown away by the gorgeous mountain views, but be careful because these mountain roads are winding and narrow! After another long day of sight-seeing, we turned around and followed 180 back out to our campsite for the night.
This was the perfect weekend trip for those looking to escape into nature and see the gorgeous landscapes that California has to offer! It is also super budget-friendly (especially if you camp for free in surrounding National Forest land). These parks are super accessible, and the short paths/trails make it easy for everyone regardless of fitness level.
So what are you waiting for?! Go get out there!!
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We hope this helps you plan your travels! Feel free to reach out if you’re planning to get out there!
Summer & Jackson
OutThere Travels
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